Game



Nov. 15, 1932. c. A. HOWLAND GAME Filed Feb. 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Irn/entor: Charles 7\. Howla'ncl.

His Attor'n ey.

NOV. 15, 1932. c, HQWLAND 1,887,642

GAME

Filed Feb. 5, 19:1 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor:

Charles 7\. Howland by WW His Attorney Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PAr r oF icEpl,

CHARLES A; HOWLAND, or S'GHEN'ECTADY, NEW YORK 7 GAME Application filed February 5, 1931. Serial ll'o. 513,64l.

The present invention relates to games and especially to games of the golf type wherein a ball is propelled by being struck by a suitable implement and caused to enter an opening or pocket.

One object of my invention is toprovide an improved game of this type which may be played in a room on a carpet or rug, which may be utilized in connection with an indoor m or outdoor miniature golf course, or which is capable of being manufactured at low cost and which isset up easily in a room orout of doors on the ground.

A further object of my invention is to .provide a hole or pocket for a golf game so constructed and arranged that added skill over that normally necessary is required in order to drive the ball into the hole or pocket. 7

Other objects and the advantages of my invention are pointed outmore fully hereinafter in connection with the following description, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed 0 to the following specification and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of a structure embodying my invention; Fig.2 isa F face view thereof, partly in section to show the construction of certain parts; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig.

7 4. is a detail sectional view on a larger scale showing one form of bearing arrangement; Fig. 5 is a face view, partly in section, of an embodiment of my invention particularly intended for outdoor use; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig.5; Fig; 7

isa face view, partly in section, of another.

construction embodying my invention, and Fig. 8 is a view of another modification.

According to my invention, I provide what may be termed a movableor a revolving golf hole, thatis, a receptacle or pocket adapted to receive a golf ball comprising a wall which projects'above the surface on-whi'ch. ball i is rolled, the wall having an opening or en-:; trance and being adapted toturn. or .Vmovef or to rotate on a vertical axis whereby the opening or entrance to the receptacle 'or pocket j may 'bemoved to face in different directions; the arrangement being such that the receptacle or pocket may be moved or turned by being struck by a ball. The receptacle. or pocket is round preferably although-it need not be W necessarily, and'it isprovided preferably with oneior morezprojections or, protuberances; which may be made with advantage from; rubber of suitable hardness and which areadapted to be struck ment ofthestructure.- V g Referringto the drawin'gs,rFigs. 1- to4 inelusive show an'embodiment of the inventionv intended particularly for usefindoorsa In these figures, 1 indic'atesabase ring adapted j to be set on orto be embedded' inthe sur-' face on which the game is to be played. On base ring 1 is mounted a ring 2 which is adaptedto turn or rotate. on ring 1. Any' suitable bearing arrangement may be used between the two rings, the'essential thing being that ring 2 may turn on ring 1 .withthe desired degree of freedom. In the present in stance I have illustrated a ring of balls 3 between the two rings, thus forming a ball bea'ring. Carried by ring 2 isawa-ll 4 which may be in the formof adomehav-ing acut-away portion which provides an opening 5. Dome l is. formed froma suitable material such as a suitable metal,. and may be integral with ring 2 or formed separately therefrom and suitably fastened thereto. In the present instance it is shown as being'formedseparate- 1y from ring2 and welded thereto'as is indicated at 6. Opening 5is ofa width some-,

what less than half the dome 4,.so that it lies on one side of the dome although it may be wider if found desirable. Fastened in the wall oft-he dome at the edges ofthe open ing and at spaced intervals around the dome, are projections or I protuberances 7 located at aheightsuch that they are adapted to'be struck by a ball rollingon the surface surrounding the'dome. Thetwo projections 7' at the edges of the opening are turned, at an.

angle as is shown in Fig. 3. The others are fastened directly on the outer surface of the dome.

The rings 1 and 2 define a hole or pocket 8 adapted to receive a ball, the entrance to the hole or pocket being through the opening 5. The two rings 1 and 2: and the dome 4 are all fastened together to form a unitary structure adapted to be positioned on a floor, and the parts have suff cient weight so that when positioned on a floor rin'gl will remain stationary and the ring 2 and the dome will turn thereon.

When the revolving hole is to be used, it is positioned so that the surrounding surface is flush with the top of ring 2, that is, with the bottom edge of the opening. This may be' accomplished by locating the ring in an opening in the material which provides the I surrounding surface, the opening being of a depth to bring the ring 21 and the surfaceflush. WVhen the revolving hole is to be positioned' on to of a surface, for example,

when it is to e placed on a carpet or rug in a room, I provide a tapered collar 9 which surrounds rings 1 and 2 and has an inclined top surface 10,'the inner edge of which is flush with the top of ring 2 and the outer edge H of which is at the level ofthe surface upon ball. nent must roll his ball to a position in front of which the collar rests.

Collar 9 is spaced slightly from ring 2 so as not to' interfere with turning movements of ring 2 and the dome.

by two or more persons for a competitive game. \Vhen used as a competitive game, a

feature of the game is that of a player rolling his own ball through the opening into the 4f) pocket or hole and at the same time striking with his ball one of the projections? to ro-' tate the dome so as to turn the opening to face in a direction away from his opponents This will require then that his oppothe opening before'he can roll it through the opening, thus being reqinred to use an extra stroke. Various rules may be formulated for playing games with the revolving golf hole, the rules making use in various ways of the revolving feature of the hole.

A single revolving hole may be used for a game or two or more revolving holes suitably spaced from each other around a floor or other surface may be used. In case a game is to comprise two or more revolving holes, the several revolving holes may be made of different sizes and constructed so that the different domes offer different amounts of resistance to turning. This serves to lend variety to the game. 7 The revolving holes may be installed. in

connection with indoor miniature golf courses in which case the collars 9 need not be used, the dome beingset down in the material formforming an entrance to the hole. Any suitable arrangement may be used for accomplishing this result, the arrangement being, such, preferably, that the dome can be adjusted vertically so as to position correctly tl e. opening in the dome. r

Figures 5 and 6 show a construction well;

adapted for use out of. doors in connection with regular golf course or putting green,

in connection with a miniature golf course,

or on a lawn. In these figures, the dome 12' having the opening 13 for passage of a ball is providedwith a depending threaded collar.

14 which threads into a threaded liner 15 positioned in a hole 16 in the ground. 'The surface of the ground is indicated at 17 and collar 1 is screwed down into liner 15 until the surface of the ground. "Collar 14sand liner 15 thus form a vertically adjustable sup port for the dome. which enables the opening l in the dome tobe adjusted readily to correct The revolving hole maybe used by one person for practising putting or itmay be used position. In this construction the dome is made in two pieces hinged togetherasis indicated at 19. Thisenables the upper portion of the dome to be raised forremovin'g balls adapts the dome. for useon a regular golf course. 22 indicates the projections on the dome corresponding to the projections 7 of Figs. 1 to 4:, and 23 indicates the, bearing support for the dome.

In Fig. 7 is illustrated a modification wherein the dome 24 is supported on a ball bearing 25 on the top of a post 26. Post 26 is supported in a staff support 27 at thebottom of a hole 28 in the ground. The post is provided with an adjustable collar 29 at its lower end which serves to position the dome relatively to the surface .of the ground. On the top of the dome is a knob-by means of which it may be lifted from the hole and replaced therein. This construction is well adapted for use on a putting green or on a lawn. Otherwise the construction shown in Fig. 7 may be similar 5and6."

It will be seen that with the construction shown in either Figs. 5 and 6 or Fig. 7, the

dome maybe readily removed from the hole to that shown in Figs.

may be used or not as found desirable. When used on a regular golf course, the revolving hole adds an additional hazard and adds to the skill required for rolling the ball into the hole. Also, it enables a player in putting to so strike the dome as to revolve it to a position where the opening in the dome points in a direction away from his opponents ball,

thus making it more difficult for his opponent to hole out.

While I have shown the wall which defines the revolving golf hole as being dome shaped, and while this is the shape I prefer, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the use of this shape but that other shapes may be used.

In Fig. 8 is shown a'form of my invention wherein the wall or dome 31 is supported on suitable rollers or casters 32, the opening 33 in the wall or dome extending to the lower edge thereof so that a ball may be rolled through it. On the wall or dome are projections 34: adapted to be struck by a ball for turning or moving the structure. This construction is well adapted for use indoors on a rug or carpet.

y my invention I provide a movable or revolving golf hole which is simple in structure and readily adapted for use in a variety patent statutes, I have described the prin ciple of operation of my invention together w1th apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiments thereof, but it is to be understood that the constructions shown are only illustrative and thatthe invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a game structure, the combination of a wall which defines a pocket, said wall having an opening for the passage of aball into the pocket, and means for rotatively supporting said wall with the lower edge of the opening flush with a surface over which a ball is to be rolled, whereby said wall may rotate to cause the opening to face in different directions.

' 2. In a game structure, the combination of a dome having an opening in one side through which a ball may be rolled, and means for rotatively supporting said dome with the lower edge of said opening flush with a surrounding surface over which a ball to tefiolled', said dome beingopenat its bottomjwhereby it"may be supported over a pocket so that'a ball rolled through the opening will fall into such pocket;

7 3. In a-g'am'e structure, the combination of a -wall which defines a pocket, said wall hav ing-an opening for the passage of a ball into the pocket-,means for rotatively support ng said wall with the lower edge of" the opening j flush with asurface {over which a ball is to be rolled, andiprojectionsjon said wall adapted to bestruck-bya ball for rotating'the wall to cause the opening to facein'different d1rec- 4'.f'In "a game structure, the combination of a dome having'anopening.inone side through tively supporting said dome with the lower edge of saidopening flush with'a surrounding surface over which a ball is to be rolled, said domebeing open at its bottom whereby it may be supported over a pocketso that a ball rolled through theopening will fall into such pocket, and spaced projections around the lower portion of the dome adapted to be struck by a ball for rotating the dome.

which aballmay be rolled, means for rota- 5. A dome adapted to besupported over a 7 hole in the ground, said dome having an opening in one side through which a ball. may pass into the hole, and Ineansfor rotatively supporting the dome over a hole with the lower edge of said opening flush with the surface of the ground. I

6. A dome adapted to be supported over a .hole in the ground, said dome having an opening in one side through which a ball may pass into the hole, means for rotatively supporting the dome over a hole. with the lower edge of said opening flush with the surface of the ground, and means whereby said supporting means may be adjusted ver-- 7 tically.

7. In combination, a wall which defines a pocket, said wall having an opening through which a ball maybe rolled into the pocket, and a base member upon which said wall is rotatively mounted, said base member being adapted to support said wall with the lower edge of said opening flush with a surface over which a ball is to be rolledinto the pocket. 8. In combination, a wall which defines a pocket, said wall having an opening through i which a ball may be rolled into the pocket,

a base member upon which said wall is rotatively mounted, said base member being adapted to support said wall on a flat surface, and a tapered collar which surrounds the base member with its top inner edge flush vring, said wall being provided with an opening through which a ball may berolled, and

means forming projections at the side edges of said opening adapted to be struck by a. bail for rotating the wall.

10. The combination with means defining a recess for the reception of a ball, of a struc-' ture rotativ-ely mounted over said recess and provided with an opening for the passage of a ball into the recess, and projections on said structure at the edges of said opening and spaced around the structure, adapted to be struck 'by a ball for rotating the structure. V c 7 11. A structure comprising a wall which defines a pocket, said wall' having an opening for'the passage of a ball into the pocket,

'roller means for supporting said wall, and

projections on the wall in spaced relation to each other adapted to be struck by a ball for turning the structure. 7

In witness whereof I'have set my hand this 31 day of January, 1931.

' CHARLES A. HOWLAND. 

